Michigan

School Choice in America

How each state gives parents the ability to choose a safe and effective school for their children.

Summary:

Michigan offers its citizens limited school choice options. Michigan does not have a private school choice program.

Public School Choice:

Michigan offers limited public school choice through inter-district and intra-district enrollment.

Private School Choice:

Michigan does not offer private school choice.

Charter School:

The Center for Education Reform reports that Michigan has one of the nation's strongest charter school laws because it provides for a variety of independent authorizers and allows charter schools to have a strong degree of autonomy. According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, in 2013, about 134,000 students were enrolled in one of the state’s 280 charter schools.

Online Learning:

According to the Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning report, Michigan has a robust online learning environment, offering a state-led program, full-time virtual charter schools, and over 500 district-run programs. The state-led Michigan Virtual School provided 17,700 course registrations in 2010-2011, making it one of the largest online providers in the United States. A 2009 law allowed Michigan to open full-time virtual charter schools, and two were in operation as of the 2010-2011 school year, serving 800 students. In March 2013, additional legislation was passed to allow up to 15 online virtual charter schools to be open in the state. Additionally, school districts can request waivers to allow eligible students to take all of their courses online. As of 2010, 50 schools districts were extended a waiver.

More Information:

<a href="http://www.schooldatadirect.org/app/location/q/stid=23/llid=111/stllid=208/locid=23/stype=/catid=-1/secid=-1/compid=-1/site=pes">Click here for detailed information</a> on Michigan's public school system and see below for school choice contacts and a history of school choice legislation in Michigan.

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